Inquiry into Journal Writing: is 10 minutes worth it?

[Ron Bonomo]

ATTENTION, ATTENTION, ATTENTION

I attempt to teach Social Studies at Coral Academy of Science.  Currently I have four different preps; AP Government and Politics, Senior Government, World Geography, and finally 8th grade Social Studies.  For my inquiry piece I wanted to focus on the 8th grade. 

 

We hear constantly from the Launguage Arts/English Department that there must be writing across the curriculum.  It is even echoed in the 8th grade Department meetings, I know because I am the chair.  The problem is what does that really mean?  After all I am also responsible for the content within my area, the numerous skills that the students must develop or build further, the discipline within my classroom, at least 5 minutes of bell work, and guiding students towards the understanding that, "the writing test is just around the corner."  I am sure many of you are aware that the 8th graders must take a writing test.

 

I first came to Coral the weekend before school started four years ago.  Challenged to develop class assignments I jumped on the idea of journal writing to hit "several birds with one stone."  Ten minutes of journal writing would allow me to take attendence, deal with the tardy and absent, and focus students on the lesson.  My rule is ten minutes and one page.  Ten points goes into the grade book for a full page, nine points for just shy of a page, six for a little over half a page, and even one point for writing the topic.  I won't take points for writing off of topic or grammar, or punctuation, or, or, or...  Initially I would read every journal.  However, over the years I have gotten lazy and have begun to just scan them unless something really catches my eye I don't do anything but apply points.  While the system currently works to develop many a great discussion I have my doubts about why students should be writing this type of journal.  When students grumble at writing I fall back on the mantra," I have talked to my friends/instructors at UNR.  Students should be able to turn out a full page in ten minutes."  Or I even trot out," write what you can on the topic."  In reflection I am not sure that this is developing anything beyond giving me some time or the discussions at hand.  I want to know if this practice is truly creating...something.

 

 

 

[Sandra Madura]

Ron,

As a social studies teacher, your search for support of journal writing to a specific and/or an open-ended prompt fits right into what you teach every day, or so it seems to me. Many primary sources can be found in personal journals and letters. In addition, you have a writing test to consider; your colleagues in reading/language arts need your collaboration. And so, you have a found a way to contribute to the school's overall efforts to create fluent writers.

I know your search for answers will lead you to many enlightening reads. You have a topic about which much has been written. I, for one, can't wait to hear the lastest news on short spurts of writing that ask students to consider their own thinking and learning as a worthy subject.

[Ron Bonomo]

Sandy,
I am currently working out a few issues/questions such as all the directions on page 5 of Kims presentation. I also just looked at the page Kristina just passed out. It seems that her article is very directed at what I am looking at. Do you forsee any problems?
Thanks

Sandra Madura said:

Ron,

As a social studies teacher, your search for support of journal writing to a specific and/or an open-ended prompt fits right into what you teach every day, or so it seems to me. Many primary sources can be found in personal journals and letters. In addition, you have a writing test to consider; your colleagues in reading/language arts need your collaboration. And so, you have a found a way to contribute to the school's overall efforts to create fluent writers.

I know your search for answers will lead you to many enlightening reads. You have a topic about which much has been written. I, for one, can't wait to hear the lastest news on short spurts of writing that ask students to consider their own thinking and learning as a worthy subject.